Birutė’s Hill
When walking around one of the most beautiful places in Palanga – Birutė Park – be sure to visit Birutė Hill. Here, on the former grounds of the Tiškevičiai manor, the centuries-old Birutė pine forest, considered sacred, has survived to this day, surrounding the legendary Birutė Hill, which rises 21 meters above sea level and offers a beautiful view of the roaring sea.
Surrounded by nature, you will not only have a great time, but you will also be transported back to ancient times – people lived here a very long time ago, as evidenced by the fact that pottery from the 1st millennium was found on the hill. The Curonian settlement complex usually consisted of a castle, one or more settlements, and an alkvietė (a place for holding meetings). The castle and the altar on Birutė Hill existed in the 10th-13th centuries, and there was a village at the foot of the hill. At the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, a defensive wall was built on the hill, which was probably burned down during the battles with the Teutonic Knights.
Later, a pagan sanctuary with a paleoastronomical observatory was built here. This sanctuary is associated with the name of Birutė, the wife of Duke Kęstutis and mother of Vytautas. According to legend, she lived here, kept a sacred fire, and was buried here after her death.
In 1869, a neo-Gothic chapel was built on the top of Birutė Hill according to a design by architect K. Majeris. In 1976, the chapel was decorated with stained glass windows by artist L. Pocius.
